Application-Aware Admission Control for Network Congestion

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Current communication systems lack application-aware admission control, leading to poor quality of experience (QoE) for users, especially in congested networks where over-the-top (OTT) services like video streaming are treated equally regardless of their specific requirements, resulting in substantial degradation of real-time services like voice and video.

Innovation Solution

Implementing an access node with a packet inspection module to detect application information from packets and an admission control module that makes decisions based on application classes, specific applications, and congestion levels, allowing for actions such as admitting, denying, or modifying admission requests to prioritize services effectively.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Device complexity

If admission control is performed on a logical bearer basis without regard to application mix, then device complexity is reduced, but quality of experience for real-time services deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveadmission control complexityVSAvoidquality of experience
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the admission control process into multiple stages: initial bearer-level admission control and subsequent application-level admission control. This segmentation allows the system to maintain simple bearer-level control while adding application-aware control only when needed, thus resolving the contradiction between device complexity and quality of experience.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent performs preliminary admission control at the bearer level before establishing connections, and then performs additional application-level admission control after traffic patterns are observed. This preliminary action approach allows the system to prepare control mechanisms in advance while maintaining operational simplicity during normal operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Ease of operation

If all OTT services are grouped into the same class of service with best effort treatment, then ease of operation is improved, but quality of experience for real-time services deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetraffic management simplicityVSAvoidquality of experience
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements dynamic traffic classification that adapts to observed traffic patterns and application behavior. Instead of static service classification, the system dynamically identifies real-time services versus non-real-time services based on actual traffic characteristics, allowing flexible QoS management that maintains ease of operation while improving quality of experience.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the parameter used for service classification from static service type to dynamic application behavior characteristics. By monitoring traffic patterns, packet intervals, and application performance, the system adjusts classification parameters in real-time to differentiate between service types, resolving the contradiction between operational simplicity and service quality.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Measurement precision

If packet inspection is performed to detect application information, then admission control accuracy is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveapplication detection accuracyVSAvoidpacket inspection complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent performs partial packet inspection by examining only specific packet fields and characteristics necessary for application identification, rather than inspecting entire packet contents. This partial action approach achieves sufficient application detection accuracy while minimizing the computational complexity and processing overhead.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

4Productivity

If network resources are allocated without application-aware control, then productivity is improved through faster processing, but quality of experience deteriorates during congestion

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveresource allocation speedVSAvoidquality of experience
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent performs preliminary application identification and classification before resource allocation decisions are made. By pre-characterizing traffic flows and identifying real-time services early in the process, the system maintains fast resource allocation while ensuring appropriate QoS treatment, thus resolving the contradiction between productivity and quality of experience.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP2839626B1Systems and methods for application-aware admission control in a communication network
Publication Date: 2019.09.11 TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING CO LTD
  • EP2839626B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2839626B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2839626B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Systems and methods for optimizing system performance of capacity and spectrum constrained, multiple-access communication systems by using application-aware admission control are provided. The systems and methods provided herein can determine admission control response using information about applications and congestion information. The information about applications can be obtained from packet inspection. The admission control responses can include admitting a new service, denying the new service, modifying the new or an existing service, delaying the new service, and suspending an existing service.